Toaster and method for controlling said toaster

ABSTRACT

A method for heating a food item includes receiving the food item within a heating compartment and positioning the food item within the heating compartment using a positioning assembly. The method further includes determining a thickness of the food item using a detection assembly in connection with the positioning assembly, generating a detection signal according to the thickness of the food item, and heating the food by controlling operation of a heating element within the heating compartment according to the detection signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/107,618, filed on Jun. 23, 2016, entitled “TOASTER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAID TOASTER,” which claims priority to International Application PCT/IB32014/066911, filed on Dec. 15, 2014, entitled “TOASTER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAID TOASTER,” which claims priority to Italian Patent Application Serial No. TO2013A001061, filed on Dec. 23, 2013, entitled “TOASTER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAID TOASTER,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. To the extent any amendments, characterizations, or other assertions previously made (in this or in any related patent applications or patents, including any parent, sibling, or child) with respect to any art, prior or otherwise, could be construed as a disclaimer of any subject matter supported by the present disclosure of this application, Applicant hereby rescinds and retracts such disclaimer. Applicant also respectfully submits that any prior art previously considered in any related patent applications or patents, including any parent, sibling, or child, may need to be revisited.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a toaster and to a method for controlling said toaster.

As is known, a toaster includes one or more heating compartments, into which foods to be heated are inserted. Said foods may comprise, for example, one or more slices of bread; in case of two slices of bread, other foods can be placed in between, such as, for example, sliced salami and ham, cheese, vegetables, etc.

A toaster is also known which additionally comprises one or more grids for centering the food within said heating compartments. Heating elements are also associated with the heating compartments, typically consisting of electric resistors that, when run by electric current, transfer heat to the foods inserted in the heating compartments.

In some cases accessory pliers can be used, which facilitate the insertion and extraction of the foods from the heating compartments.

Known toasters make available to the user one or more heating programs, each one characterized by a respective time duration. By means of a suitable selector, the user can choose the preferred program as a function of the type of food to be heated.

Known toasters, however, may not be able to ensure optimal results for some food categories, such as, for example, toasts. For example, by selecting short programs one can obtain a satisfactory browning of the outer surface of the toast, but the inside will not be heated appropriately. Conversely, by selecting longer programs, the inside of the toast will be heated appropriately, but the outer surfaces will get too hot or may even burn.

SUMMARY

The Applicant has found that the above-described problems with existing toasters is at least partially due to the fact that, in short programs, the heat is not allowed sufficient time to penetrate the innermost layers of the toast, which will not get sufficiently hot.

Accordingly, by setting a heating program including a suitable series of activations/deactivations of the heating means, the heat can be allowed to reach also the innermost layers of the food so as to reduce the above-described undesired effects, such as burning, on the outermost surfaces.

The Applicant has also found that, for the purpose of optimizing the operation of the toaster and hence the heating of the food positioned in the heating compartments, it would be desirable that the toaster itself could automatically activate the most appropriate heating programs without requiring the user's intervention. Accordingly, in an aspect of the disclosure a toaster is equipped with at least one heating compartment and at least one heating element associated with said heating compartment, at least one detection device for recognizing a thickness of said at least one food and generating a corresponding detection signal, as well as a control unit, acting upon said at least one heating element and configured for executing a heating program as a function of said detection signal.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a toaster includes a first heating compartment, in which a food to be heated is positionable and a first heating element associated with the first heating compartment and adapted to heat the food positioned in said at least one heating compartment. The toaster further includes a first detection device for recognizing a thickness of the food and generating a corresponding detection signal and a control unit acting upon said first heating element, including executing a heating program as a function of said detection signal.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for controlling a toaster includes recognizing a thickness of at least one food, generating a detection signal according to said thickness, and executing a heating program as a function of said detection signal.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a toaster includes a first heating compartment, in which a food to be heated is positionable and a first positioning structure acting upon the food in order to position the same in the first heating compartment. The toaster further includes a first heating element associated with said at least one heating compartment and adapted to heat the food positioned in said at least one heating compartment and a first detection device that cooperates with the first positioning structure in order to recognize the thickness of the food and generates a corresponding detection signal. A control unit acts upon said first heating element, including by executing a heating program as a function of said detection signal.

According to another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for controlling a toaster, said method comprising the recognition of a thickness of at least one food, and the execution of a heating program as a function of said thickness.

This may allow for an optimal selection of the mode in which the heat will be transferred to the food.

Said toaster may comprise at least one positioning structure acting upon said at least one food for positioning the same in said at least one heating compartment.

Said detection device may cooperate with at least one positioning structure in order to recognize said at least one thickness.

Said detection device may be configured for recognizing said at least one thickness as a function of a displacement of said at least one positioning structure.

Said at least one positioning structure may comprise a pair of grids respectively acting upon opposite sides of a respective food.

Said toaster may comprise at least one stem having a first end constrained to a respective one of said grids, and a second end opposite to said first end, said detection device being configured for determining said at least one thickness as a function of a displacement of said second end.

Said detection device may comprise a sensing element which can be switched between a first and a second operating condition, said sensing element being in the first operating condition when it is not in contact with the second end of said stem, said sensing element being switched into the second operating condition when the second end of said stem exerts a certain pressure on said sensing element.

Said detection device may generate said detection signal when said sensing element is switched into the second operating condition.

When said sensing element is switched into the second operating condition, said control unit may act upon said at least one heating element in order to execute a main heating program comprising a succession of activations separated by respective deactivations of said at least one heating element.

When said sensing element is in the first operating condition, said control unit may act upon said at least one heating element in order to execute a heating program in which said at least one heating element is kept active for substantially the whole duration of the program.

Said detection device may comprise a sensing element cooperating with the second end of said stem, so that said detection signal will vary as a function of the position of said second end.

Said sensing element may be configured for detecting the position of said second end with substantial spatial continuity within a predetermined stroke.

Said detection signal may be representative of the position of said second end within said predetermined stroke.

Said control unit may be configured for selecting, among a plurality of preset programs, one heating program to be executed as a function of said detection signal.

Said plurality of programs may comprise:

a. a first group of heating programs, in each one of which said at least one heating element is activated with substantial continuity for the whole duration of the program;

b. a second group of heating programs, each one of which performing a plurality of activations, separated by respective deactivations, of said at least one heating element during the execution of the program.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. Said description will refer to the annexed drawings, also provided merely as explanatory and non-limiting examples, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a block diagram of a toaster in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a sectional view of a portion of a first embodiment of a toaster in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 schematically shows a sectional view of a portion of a second embodiment of a toaster in accordance with the present invention.

The drawings show different aspects and embodiments of the present invention and, where appropriate, similar structures, components, materials and/or elements are designated in the various drawings by the same reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the annexed drawings, reference numeral 1 designates as a whole a toaster in accordance with the present invention.

The toaster 1 comprises, first of all, a heating compartment 11, 12, into which the food 13, 14 to be heated is positioned.

In the illustrated embodiment, the toaster 1 comprises two heating compartments 11, 12, each one adapted to receive a respective food 13, 14.

The food 13, 14 may comprise, by way of example, slices of bread, toasts, sandwiches, etc.

Each one of the compartments 11, 12 may have a substantially parallelepiped shape, i.e. a shape suitable for housing, with some clearance allowing comfortable insertion and extraction, a slice of bread or a couple of slices of bread between which at least one other food is interposed (toast/sandwich).

The toaster 1 further comprises at least one heating element 21-24, associated with the at least one heating compartment 11, 12 and adapted to heat the food 13, 14 contained in said at least one compartment.

For the purpose of positioning the food 13, 14 correctly, each heating compartment 11, 12 can be conveniently associated with a respective positioning structure 50, 51. Each positioning structure 50, 51 may comprise a pair of grids 25, 26; 27, 28, also referred to as “centering grids”. The positioning structure 50, 51 is movable relative to the frame 2 of the toaster 1, in order to allow the food 13, 14 to be properly centered within the respective heating compartment 11, 12.

In an embodiment, each heating compartment 11, 12 is associated with a respective pair of heating elements 21, 22; 23, 24.

Each heating element 21-24 may be integral with the frame 2 of the toaster 1.

Each heating element 21-24 can advantageously be implemented as an electric resistor (e.g. a coil-shaped electric resistor) and positioned on one side of the heating compartment 11, 12. The heating elements 21, 22; 23, 24 of each pair can be located on opposite sides of the respective heating compartment 11, 12, in order to heat both surfaces of the food 13, 14.

When food is to be heated, the at least one heating element 21-24 may be run by a predetermined current, so as to generate the desired heat and transfer it to the food positioned in the respective heating compartment 11, 12.

In accordance with the disclosure, the toaster 1 further comprises at least one detection device 70, 80 in order to recognize a thickness of the at least one food 13, 14 and generate a corresponding detection signal DS1, DS2.

In an embodiment, the toaster 1 comprises a pair of detection devices 70, 80, each one associated with a respective positioning structure 50, 51.

The toaster 1 further comprises a control unit associated with the at least one heating element 21-24 and configured for executing a heating program as a function of the detection signal DS1, DS2.

The detection device 70, 80 may cooperate with the positioning structure 50, 51 in order to recognize said at least one thickness.

In particular, the detection device 70, 80 may be configured for recognizing the thickness of the food 13, 14 as a function of a displacement of the positioning structure 50, 51.

In practice, the detection device 70 recognizes the thickness of the food 13 as a function of the displacement of the positioning structure 50 and generates the corresponding detection signal DS1; likewise, the detection device 80 recognizes the thickness of the food 14 as a function of the displacement of the positioning structure 51 and generates the detection signal DS2.

The control unit 30 then adjusts the operation of the heating elements 21-24 as a function of the signals DS1, DS2.

For example, the operation of the heating elements 21, 22 can be adjusted as a function of the detection signal DS1, and the operation of the heating elements 23, 24 can be adjusted as a function of the detection signal DS2.

In a different embodiment, the detection elements 21-24 are all adjusted in the same manner, which is determined by the control unit 30 on the basis of the two detection signals DS1, DS2.

In an embodiment, the toaster 1 comprises at least one stem 60, 65 having a first end 60 a, 65 a and a second end 60 b, 65 b.

The first end 60 a, 65 a of the stem 60, 65 is constrained to a respective one of the above-mentioned grids 25-28.

The second end 60 b, 65 b of the stem 60, 65 is used for determining the displacement of the grid, and hence the thickness of the food.

In practice, as schematically shown in FIG. 1, the grid 25 is constrained to the stem 60, and the opposing grid 28 is constrained to the stem 65.

The stem 60, 65 may be substantially integral with the respective grid.

The detection device 70, 80 may, accordingly, be configured for determining the thickness of the food 13, 14 as a function of the displacement of the second end 60 b, 65 b of the stem 60, 65.

In a further embodiment (shown in FIG. 2), the detection device 70, 80 may be equipped with a sensing element 71, 81 that can be switched between a first and a second operating conditions.

The sensing element 71, 81 is in the first operating condition when it is not in contact with the second end 60 b, 65 b of the stem 60.

The sensing element 71, 81 is switched into the second operating condition when the second end 60 b, 65 b of the stem 60, 65 exerts a predetermined pressure on the sensing element 71, 81 itself.

In practice, the sensing element 71, 81 is normally separated from the second end 60 b, 65 b of the stem 60, 65, i.e. in the first operating condition.

When a particularly thick food, e.g. a toast or a sandwich, is inserted, the stem undergoes a translational movement (from left to right in FIG. 2), until the second end 60 b, 65 b of the stem 60, 65 abuts against the sensing element 71, 81, thus exerting some pressure on it and switching it into the second operating condition.

The sensing element 71, 81 can be implemented as some sort of electromechanical push-button that, depending on the pressure exerted on it, will cause either the generation or the interruption of a certain voltage/current.

When the sensing element 71, 81 is switched into the second operating condition, the detection device 70, 80 generates the detection signal DS1, DS2.

When the sensing element 71, 81 is switched into the second operating condition, the control unit 30 may act upon the at least one heating element 21-24 in order to execute a main heating program comprising a succession of activations separated by respective deactivations of said at least one heating element 21-24.

In other words, the main heating program can activate and deactivate the at least one heating element 21-24 multiple times, so that, given a certain total duration of the main heating program, the total on time of the at least one heating element 21-24 will be significantly shorter than said duration and will be distributed in a predetermined manner over the duration of the program.

When the heating compartment 11, 12 is associated with a pair of heating elements 21, 22; 23, 24, the succession of activations/deactivations in the main heating program may be imposed on both of such heating elements.

By way of example only, the main heating program may comprise a plurality of activations of the at least one heating element 21-24, each one having a duration of 40 seconds to 50 seconds, each pair of consecutive activations being separated by one deactivation having a duration of 10 seconds to 20 seconds. The total duration of the program may be, for example, comprised between 190 seconds and 260 seconds, during which the at least one heating element 21-24 is activated 4 times (i.e. it is activated for a total time between 160 seconds and 200 seconds).

When, on the contrary, the sensing element 71, 81 is in the first operating condition, the control unit 30 may act upon the at least one heating element 21-24 in order to execute a heating program in which the at least one heating element 21-24 is kept active for substantially the whole duration of the program.

In practice, when the sensing element 71, 81 is in the first operating condition, a traditional program is executed, the duration of which may be set by the user.

In a second operating condition, the detection device 70, 80 comprises a sensing element 71′, 81′ cooperating with the second end 60 b, 65 b of the stem 60, 65, so that the detection signal DS1, DS2 will vary as a function of the position of the second end 60 b, 65 b itself.

In particular, the sensing element 71′, 81′ is configured for detecting the position of the second end 60 b, 65 b with substantial spatial continuity within a predetermined stroke.

Said predetermined stroke is defined between two extreme positions that the second end 60 b, 65 b can take, respectively in the absence of food in the heating compartment or in the presence of a food 13, 14 of maximum thickness in the same compartment.

Preferably, the detection signal DS1, DS2 is representative of the position of the second end 60 b, 65 b within the predetermined stroke.

One possible practical implementation uses a sliding electric contact between the second end 60 b, 65 b and a support 90, 91 integral with the frame 2 of the toaster 1. As the position of the second end 60 b, 65 b changes, a corresponding variable electric signal is generated, which preferably defines the detection signal DS1, DS2.

The control unit 30 is configured for selecting, among a plurality of preset programs, one heating program to be executed as a function of the detection signal DS1, DS2.

In one possible embodiment, said plurality of programs comprise:

a. a first group of heating programs, in each one of which the at least one heating element 21-24 is activated with substantial continuity for the whole duration of the program;

b. a second group of heating programs, each one of which performs a plurality of activations, separated by respective deactivations, of the at least one heating element 21-24 during the execution of the program.

The following table shows some examples of programs belonging to the second group: the first and third columns show some exemplary durations of periods of activation of the at least one heating element 21-24; the second and fourth columns show some exemplary durations of the respective periods of deactivation of the at least one heating element 21-24; and the fifth column shows the total duration of each program.

ON OFF ON OFF Total 55″ 30″ 55″ 30″ 2′ 50″  1′ 30″  1′ 30″ 3′ 1′ 10″ 30″ 1′ 10″ 30″ 3′ 20″ 1′ 15″ 30″ 1′ 15″ 30″ 3′ 30″ 1′ 20″ 32″ 1′ 20″ 32″ 3′ 44″ 1′ 25″ 30″ 1′ 25″ 30″ 3′ 50″

In an embodiment, the control unit 30 can be associated with a respective memory 31, which is logically and/or physically divided into two portions: the first portion stores the characteristic parameters of the programs of the first group (typically the time duration thereof), whereas the second portion stores the characteristic parameters of the programs of the second group (e.g.: heating element on/off times, number of activations/deactivations, etc.).

As a function of the detection signal DS1, DS2, it is thus possible to select the most appropriate program from the first or second memory portions.

When the detected thickness is greater than a predetermined threshold, programs of the second group may be selected. Instead, when the thickness is below said threshold, programs of the first group may be selected.

The above described toaster 1 may offer significant advantages.

First of all, the toaster can autonomously determine which is the most appropriate program to be used for heating the food positioned in the heating compartments, thereby optimizing the quality of the final product provided to the user.

In addition, by executing programs such as, for example, the above-mentioned main heating program or the above-mentioned programs of the second group, it may be possible to optimally heat both the outer surfaces and the innermost layers of the food inserted in the heating compartment.

This may significantly improve the quality of the food provided to the user.

Furthermore, the toaster according to the invention has a simple structure which can be manufactured easily and economically. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a toaster, comprising: determining a thickness of at least one food item within the toaster; generating a detection signal according to the thickness; and executing a heating program as a function of the detection signal.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the heating program is selected from one of a plurality of heating programs corresponding with the detection signal.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of heating programs includes implementing a succession of activations of a first heating element, separated by respective deactivations of the first heating element.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of heating programs includes maintaining a first heating element in an active condition during an entire duration of the program.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the detection signal according to the thickness includes one of: generating a first detection signal corresponding with a heating element of the toaster operating according to a first heating program when the thickness is below a predetermined threshold; and generating a second detection signal corresponding with the heating element operating according to a second heating program when the thickness of the food is above the predetermined threshold.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second heating program comprises a succession of activations separated by respective deactivations of the heating element.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the first heating program is such that the heating element is maintained in an active condition for an entire duration of the program.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the toaster includes a heating compartment, in which the at least one food item is received; and the step of determining the thickness of the at least one food item is carried out using a detection assembly within the heating compartment.
 9. The method of claim 8, further including positioning the food item within the heating compartment using a positioning assembly, wherein: the step of determining the thickness of the at least one food item is further carried out using the positioning assembly.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of determining the thickness of the at least one food item includes recognizing that the thickness of the food is above a predetermined threshold by detecting a displacement of at least a portion of the first positioning assembly into contact with a portion of the detection assembly.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the thickness of the at least one food item further includes recognizing that the thickness of the food is below a predetermined threshold by not detecting the displacement of the at least a portion of the first positioning assembly into contact with the portion of the detection assembly.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the detection signal is generated differently depending on whether or not the thickness of the at least one food item is recognized as being above the predetermined threshold.
 13. A method for heating a food item, comprising: receiving the food item within a heating compartment; positioning the food item within the heating compartment using a positioning assembly; determining a thickness of the food item using a detection assembly in connection with the positioning assembly; generating a detection signal according to the thickness of the food item; and heating the food by controlling operation of a heating element within the heating compartment according to the detection signal.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein generating the detection signal according to the thickness includes one of: generating a first detection signal corresponding with the heating element operating according to a first heating program when the thickness is below a predetermined threshold; and generating a second detection signal corresponding with the heating element operating according to a second heating program when the thickness of the food is above the predetermined threshold.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second heating program comprises a succession of activations separated by respective deactivations of the heating element.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first heating program is such that the heating element is maintained in an active condition for an entire duration of the program.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the method is carried out using a toaster, wherein the heating compartment is defined as a slot within the toaster.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining the thickness of the at least one food item includes recognizing that the thickness of the food is above a predetermined threshold by detecting a displacement of at least a portion of the first positioning assembly into contact with a portion of the detection assembly.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of determining the thickness of the at least one food item further includes recognizing that the thickness of the food is below a predetermined threshold by not detecting the displacement of the at least a portion of the first positioning assembly into contact with the portion of the detection assembly.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the detection signal is generated differently depending on whether or not the thickness of the at least one food item is recognized as being above the predetermined threshold. 